International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),

INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME
AND TECHNOLOGY (IJCIET)

IJCIET

ISSN 0976 6308 (Print)

ISSN 0976 6316(Online)
Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168
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WATER QUALITY INDEX MAPPING OF KENGERI INDUSTRIAL AREA

OF BANGALORE CITY USING GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS
B. Santhaveerana Goud1,
1

Basavaraj Paruti2

(Professor and Former Chairman, Department of Civil Engineering, University Visvesvaraya

College of Engineering, Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India)
2
(Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Bangalore University,
Bangalore, Karnataka, India)

ABSTRACT
Assessment of groundwater quality is essential in the field of environmental quality
management. The present study aims at the assessment of groundwater quality of Kengeri industrial
area, comprises of 133.95 Sq Km, in Bangalore city with the help of water quality index (WQI).The
groundwater samples collected from thirty locations were analyzed as per the standard methods. pH,
total hardness, iron, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, sulphate and
nitrate were considered for the study. The WQI of thirty samples were ranged between 0.92 and
361.41. Nearly 24 % of the samples exceeded the value of WQI 100. The high value of WQI may be
attributed due to higher concentrations of iron, nitrate, total dissolved solids, total hardness and
fluorides beyond desirable limits in the groundwater samples. During post monsoon season,
groundwater of about 42.78 Sq Km area was unfit for drinking. The analysis reveals that the
groundwater of south-west Kengeri industrial area needs some treatment before using it for domestic
applications and it also necessitates for protection from the risk of further contamination.
Keywords: Geographical Information System, Groundwater Quality, Spatial distribution, Water
Quality Index, Water Quality Parameters.
I.

INTRODUCTION

Water is an important natural resource. It is a basic human need and a valuable national asset.
Discharge of industrial effluents without proper treatment into open pits or through unlined channels
to move towards low lying depressions on land, results in the contamination of groundwater
(Purandara and Varadarajan 2003). The industrial effluents if not treated and properly controlled, can
pollute and cause serious damage to the groundwater resources, which results in poor quality of
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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME

groundwater (Mishra, P.C.et.al, 2005). In this study an attempt has made to evaluate the groundwater
quality of the Kengeri industrial area of Bangalore city by using WQI.
The Department of Mines and Geology carried out investigations to evaluate the groundwater
quality in Bangalore Metropolis. It is reported that 51% of the samples were found to be non-potable
due to the presence of excessive concentrations of one or more water quality parameters such as
Nitrates, Hardness, Iron, Chloride, Total Dissolved Solids etc. Nitrate was however found to be a
major pollutant accounting for 45% of non-potability (Shivashankar and Vijaya Bhaskar, 1998).
The Central Groundwater Board carried out studies on industrial pollution in Bangalore city
covering major industrial belts of an area of 80 Sq km and reported that the groundwater was slightly
alkaline in nature and dominated by calcium and magnesium as Cations, and chloride and nitrate as
anions. The groundwater occurring in these belts showed excessive concentrations of nitrates,
resulting in non-potability ranging from 12.5 to 50% (CGWB 1999).
Water quality index is one of the easy ways to communicate information on the quality of
water to the concerned citizens and the policy makers. It thus, becomes an important parameter for
the assessment and management of groundwater. A water quality index (WQI) may be defined as a
rating reflecting the composite influence of a number of water quality parameters on the overall
quality of water. The main objective of WQI is to express complex water quality data in simple
manner that is understandable and useable by the public.
II.

STUDY AREA

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka State and is situated in the central part of peninsular
India on the Deccan Plateau, with a world-wide reputation as Silicon Valley of India. It is home to
somewhere between 8 to 9 million people. The study area is located between latitudes 120 51N to
120 59N and longitudes 77024E to 770 33 E.. It is situated at an average altitude of 920 m above
mean sea level. The study area, Kengeri Industrial area, comprises of 133.95 Sq km, lies in the
Southern part of Bangalore city, is covered in part of the Survey of India Toposheet No 57 H/5 & 57
H/9. It houses more than 500 industries dominated by chemical, pharmaceutical, distilleries, plating
and allied industries. Map of the study area is as shown in fig-1.
CLIMATE
Bangalore city climate is pleasant and healthy, and devoid of extremes, neither very humid
nor very dry. The temperature of the city varies between 28C and 37C during the hottest months
(April/May) and from 15C to 25C during winter months (December/January). Annual average
rainfall over the city is about 850 mm.
III.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The groundwater samples from borewells and open wells in the study area from thirty
locations were collected during pre-monsoon & post monsoon seasons in the year 2010 in two litre
PVC containers as per the standard procedure and were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters as
per standard methods for examination of water and wastewater (APHA, 2002). pH and Electrical
Conductivity were determined at the time of sample collection. The results obtained were assessed
in accordance with Indian Standard Drinking Water Specification IS 10500: 1991 of Bureau of
Indian Standards 2003. Water quality index was estimated by selecting ten drinking water quality
parameters (Table-1). Data for WQI and identified contaminants were linked to the sampling
locations using ArcGIS software. The present study used the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW)
method for spatial interpolation of WQI and chemical contaminants. Inverse Distance Weighted
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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME

(IDW) is an interpolation technique in which interpolated estimates are made based on values at
nearby locations weighted only by distance from the interpolation location.

Figure 1: Location map of the study area

IV.

DETERMINATION OF WATER QUALITY INDEX (WQI)

In the design of a WQI, the importance of various water quality parameters depends on the
intended use of water. This paper attempts to evaluate the water quality indices from the viewpoint
of suitability of water for human consumption. The method of evaluating the WQI has been briefly
discussed in the following paragraphs.
In the first place, the more harmful a given pollutant of water, the smaller in magnitude is its
standard for drinking water. So the unit weight Wi for the ith parameter Pi is assumed to be inversely
proportional to its recommended standard Si (i=1, 2,..,n) and n= no. of parameters considered.
Thus,
Wi= K / Si ,

--------------------------------------(1)
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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME

The quality rating qi for the ith parameter P is given, for all other parameters except pH, by
the relation
qi =100 (Vi / Si ) ----------------------------------(2)
Where Vi is the observed value of the ith parameter and S is its recommended standard for drinking
water. For pH, the quality rating qpH can be calculated from the relation
qpH =100[(VpH~7.0)/1.5] -------------------------(3)
Finally, the water quality index (WQI) can be calculated by taking the weighted arithmetic
mean of the quality rating qi, thus,
WQI= [ (qi Wi ) / Wi] ------------------------(4)
Based on the WQI values (Table-2), the ground water quality can be rated as excellent, good,
poor, very poor, and unfit for human consumption (Table - 3).
V.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The Water quality indices for all the 30 sampling stations have been calculated using the
groundwater quality data as per the standard procedure using the equations 1 to 4. The complete
results have been presented in Table - 2. It was observed that, the overall quality of the groundwater
of the area was reflected with the values of WQI ranged between 0.92 and 361.41. Nearly 24 % of
the samples exceeded the value of WQI 100, the upper limit of WQI for drinking water. The high
value of WQI may be attributed due to higher concentrations of iron, nitrate, total dissolved solids,
hardness and fluorides beyond desirable limits in the groundwater samples. During post monsoon
season, groundwater of about 42.78 Sq Km area was unfit for drinking. The analysis reveals that the
groundwater of the Kengeri industrial area needs some treatment before using it for domestic
applications and it also necessitates for protection from the risk of further contamination. By using
GIS software the thematic maps have been generated based on the results obtained for the entire
study area separately for pre monsoon and post monsoon seasons, thus making GIS as a decision
support system. The spatial distribution of WQI is depicted in the fig-2.
Table 1: Selected Water Quality Parameters, their Standards and Unit Weights
Sl No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Parameter (Pi)
pH
Total Hardness
Iron
Chloride
Fluoride
TDS
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulphate
Nitrate

Standard (Si)
6.5-8.5
300
0.3
250
1
500
75
30
200
45

Unit weight (Wi)

0.142
0.003
3.330
0.004
1.000
0.002
0.013
0.033
0.006
0.022

Wi = 4.555

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME

Table 2: Water Quality Index (WQI) for the groundwater of Kengeri industrial area
Sl
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Sampling Location
Mr. Krishnamurthys Residence, No. 362, 2nd
Cross, Kavika Layout.
Near Ganapathy Enterprises and Provision Stores,
No 136, Kavika Layout.
Balmuri Vinayaka Seva Trust, 5th Cross,
Nayandahalli.
Chhabhaiya Saw Mill, Nayandahalli.
Ashwathkatte, Mysore Road, Byatarayanapura.
D Cross, Mysore Road, Byatarayanapura.
Sri Beereshwar Enterprises, Pantharapalya,
Mysore Road.
Vrishabhavathi
Sewage
Treatment
Plant
Compound, Mysore Road.
The Club, 20/2, 7th Mile, Mysore Road.
Bangalore Malleable Castings, Mysore Road.
Garden Department, Jnanabharathi Campus.
Bangalore University, Jnanabharathi Ladies
Hostel.
In front of Raja Rajeshwari Temple, Raja
Rajeshwari Nagar.
Wonder Blues Dyeing Industry, 7th Mile, Mysore
Road.
Sri Lakshmi Devi Prasanna, No 2163, Kengeri
Upanagar.
Sri Madakeswami Ashram, Kengeri.
Near RVCE, Kengeri.
Athenas St Philomenas School, Kengeri Hobli.
Next to Petrol Bunk, Kengeri.
In front of Track Wheels Garage, Anchepalya,
Mysore Road, Bangalore - 74.
In front of Raja Rajeshwari Dental College and
Hospital, Ramohalli, Mysore Road
Kambipura,
near
Vrishabhavathi
flow,
downstream.
Irrigation well of Madappa, Doddabele.
YMCA, Kumbalgod.
Wirtgen India Pvt.Ltd. No, 22-B, Kumbalgod
Industrial Area.
Pepsi factory, No. 23 1st phase, Kumbalgod
Industrial Area.
Near Don Bosco Institute of Technology,
Kumbalgod.
Amrith Distilleries, Kumbalgod.
Mr. Bodappas Farm, No. 190, 2nd Cross,
Kumbalgod.
Associated Drug Company, Jagdale Industries,
47/1, Kumbalgod.

166

WQI PreMonsoon
68.31

WQI PostMonsoon
81.65

Type of
well
OW

38.59

43.50

BW

323.76

361.41

BW

83.63
45.29
21.85
58.35

89.55
69.52
23.90
96.66

BW
BW
BW
BW

26.63

29.21

BW

72.60
42.22
31.70
44.21

85.43
77.05
33.45
50.93

BW
BW
BW
BW

11.81

13.10

HP

30.96

43.88

BW

269.11

282.68

HP

40.45
0.92
53.52
40.47
34.35

39.76
0.90
66.27
71.92
50.62

BW
HP
OW
BW
BW

7.53

8.52

BW

183.90

244.20

OW

105.72
40.75
31.66

125.27
43.15
26.96

BW
BW
BW

14.40

18.77

BW

35.15

41.29

BW

296.16
302.16

351.78
336.58

BW
OW

126.14

164.97

BW

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME

Table 3: Classification of selected area in to different categories on the basis of Water Quality
Index
Water Quality Groundwater
Area influenced by each category in Sq-km
Index(WQI)
quality
Pre-monsoon
Post-monsoon
0-25
Excellent
1.64
0.92
25-50
Good
25.81
11.42
50-75
Poor
53.01
44.97
75-100
Very Poor
26.26
33.86
>100
Unfit for
27.23
42.78
drinking

Figure 2: Spatial distribution of water quality index

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 9, September (2014), pp. 162-168 IAEME

VI.

CONCLUSIONS

The present work of assessment of groundwater quality based on water quality index reveals that
1. Nearly 24% of the samples are contaminated and unfit for domestic use.
2. From the spatial analysis, it has been observed that the quality of groundwater in nearly 20%
(27.23 sq-km) of the area in pre-monsoon & 32% (42.78 sq-km) of area in post-monsoon,
found to be unfit for drinking and the WQI values are more than 100.
3. The high value of WQI may be attributed due to higher concentrations of iron, nitrate, total
dissolved solids, total hardness and fluorides beyond desirable limits in the groundwater
samples.
4. South-western part of the Kengeri industrial area was found to be highly contaminated. The
highly contaminated area comprised of Doddabele, Kambipura, Thalaghattapura, Kolur,
Chikkellur, Sheshagiripura, and Kaniminike.
5. Middle and North western part of the Kengeri industrial area was found to be less
contaminated. That area comprised of Ramasandra, Sulikere, Kenchna Pura, Kannahalli.
6. The study helps us to understand the quality of the water as well as to develop suitable
management practices to protect the ground water resources.
VII.

REFERENCES

[1] Purandara, B. K., & Varadarajan, N. (2003). Impacts on Groundwater Quality by

Urbanization. Journal of Indian Water Resources Society, 23, 107115.
[2] Mishra, P. C., Behera, P. A., & Patel, R. K. (2005).Contamination of water due to major
industries and open refuse dumping in the steel city of Orissa. Journal of Environmental
Science and Engineering, 47, 141151.
[3] Shivashankar, T. M., & Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, R. (1998).Evaluation of Groundwater Quality
in BangaloreMetropolis, Report, Department of Mines and Geology, Bangalore.
[4] Central Groundwater Board (1999). Hydrogeolgical report on Bangalore Metropolitan area,
Karnataka, 1214.
[5] BIS (2003). Bureau of Indian Standards IS: 10500 -1991, Manak Bhavan, New Delhi, India.
[6] APHA (2002). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20th edition.).
Washington D.C.: American Public and Health Association.
[7] Mohammed Hashim Ameen and Dr. R. K. Pandey, Delineation of Irrigation Infrastructural,
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International Journal of Civil Engineering & Technology (IJCIET), Volume 4, Issue 3, 2013,
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